Kingdom Hearts 4 Could Be the End of the Series, as Creative Director Tetsuya Nomura Wants to Retire in a Few Years

Tetsuya Nomura created 12 video games in the last four years, taking on the role of creative director for about half of them, including Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII Reunion and the recent Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. Now, as he continues to work on Final Fantasy VII Remake: Part 3 and Kingdom Hearts 4, Nomura, who will soon turn 54, has begun to think about retiring from the video game industry. He mentioned that his retirement could coincide with the completion of both major projects.

In an interview with YoungJump, Nomura said, “I only have a few years left until I retire. I have to decide whether to retire first or finish the series first.” This statement suggests that Kingdom Hearts 4 may serve as the final chapter in the long-running series, which began in 2002. He also said, “I’m making Kingdom Hearts IV now with the intention of it being a story that will be completed.”

Nomura may have made the statement about “only a few years left” with an ironic tone, suggesting not his retirement but the long development cycles of AAA games. In today’s industry, high-budget productions often take four to five years to complete, which could be what he was referring to.

The announcement of Kingdom Hearts 4 in 2022 hinted at the beginning of a new storyline, the Lost Master Arc. However, Nomura’s contemplation of retirement raises questions about how long the story will continue. With his hands full on both the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy and Kingdom Hearts 4, questions remain about what Nomura will ultimately decide regarding his future in the gaming industry.

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